COURT told Neil Burke and his family had been threatened after his godson became involved in drugs and he only agreed to operate the cannabis factory to pay off his debts.

A DECORATED Army major caught running a £57,000 cannabis farm yesterday avoided going to jail and was ordered to hand over just £7000 of crime cash.

Shamed Neil Burke, who retired in 2008 to become a Quartermaster in the Territorial Army, was stopped by police as he left the drugs factory last April.

Officers then raided the house in Kilconquhar, near Leven, Fife, and found hash plants worth £57,000.

Burke, 53, dodged jail by claiming he and his family had been threatened after his godson became involved in drugs – and had agreed to operate the farm to pay off his debts.

But after he was convicted, prosecutors alleged that Burke, who received the Queen’s Jubilee Medal, the Accumulated Service Medal and medals from the UN for his service in Kosovo and Cyprus, was “living a criminal lifestyle”.

They initially wanted to confiscate £76,433.62 they say is attributable to that.

But after a series of hearings at Cupar Sheriff Court, Burke has now been told to hand over £7000.

At an earlier hearing, fiscal depute Brian Robertson told the court: “When police approached he appeared shocked, and police could smell cannabis on him. The accused told the police, ‘this is so embarrassing’.”

Burke, 53, of Johnstone, Renfrewshire, pleaded guilty to producing cannabis on April 17 last year.